Historic Filipinotown’s Next Project Promises Dinner and Cocktails

It’s becoming more and more apparent that Historic Filipinotown’s dining and nightlife boom isn’t going away any time soon, as evidenced by the incoming restaurant Thunderbolt. The Temple Street projects has been kept pretty well under wraps for more than a year, but sources say that construction is starting in earnest now and the dinnertime place could move into final opening stages by early spring of next year.

Thunderbolt is the a big standalone project from Rahul Marwah, a part owner in Denco Family. The rather large Southern California franchising outfit operates dozens of Denny’s (including the first in New York City) and Subway locations from their headquarters based in Whittier, and Marwah has worked on other one-off restaurants on both coasts over the years as well.

The Eastsider previously reported that the restaurant will span some 2,400 feet, with around 100 seats inside and out, as well as a full bar. Per city-filed plans there will be lounge seating, a three-quarter bar, and lots of outdoor greenery as well. Eater has learned that Barling Construction (Otium, Rappahannock, Redbird, Majordomo) is behind the build, and construction is already underway.

A contact for the restaurant tells Eater that the former Dinner House M space will focus mostly on drinks, but will also serve a tight Southern-inspired menu for dinner. Lunch and brunch could come down the line. along with possible plans to also rehab the hotel space the Knights Inn hotel space upstairs, turning it into a boutique destination all its own. More on this as it comes.